Home >> Teacher Education >> Computer Science Endorsement

Computer Science Endorsement

Computer Science Teacher Endorsement Curriculum

SPSU is now offering a 17-hour program leading to an endorsement in Computer Science. Teachers with a clearly renewable level 4 or higher teaching certificate in a secondary or P-12 certification field who successfully complete the curriculum will be eligible for a Computer Science Endorsement from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

  • all courses available online or in person
  • minimal application requirements
  • credit by exam for existing knowledge
  • designed with working teachers in mind
  • only 17 hours of coursework required

Learning Outcomes:

Teachers who successfully complete the curriculum should be able to:

  1. Successfully teach the range of computing courses offered in the high school computing pathway (computing in the modern world, introductory programming, AP CS, AP CS Principles).
  2. Complete programming assignments in Java equivalent to those appearing on the AP CS A test.
  3. Design and implement basic web pages using appropriate technology.
  4. Demonstrate basic knowledge of computer architecture, networks, and databases.
  5. Describe possible careers in computing and explain how computing permeates today’s society, including security and privacy considerations.
  6. Use appropriate pedagogical content knowledge for teaching computing.

 

Graduate Admissions

Tuition and Fees

Online Tuition and Fees

The 9-course CS Endorsement Curriculum

 

CS 5003 – Introduction to Accelerated Programming

         Course outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate skills in the use of core programming concepts such as data types, arithmetic expressions, control structures, logical expressions, selection, and repetition
  2. Master basic class and object oriented concepts including class definition, using classes, inheritance, and polymorphism
  3. Solve programming problems which include 1D and 2D arrays and dynamic collections such as the ArrayList
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of file I/O and exception handling techniques

 

CS 5011 Fundamentals of Computer Architecture

         Course outcomes:

By the end of this course students should comprehend the principles and concepts of computer architecture. More specifically, students should be able to:

  1. Apply different formats of data representation and number systems.
  2. Understand vonNeumann architecture and its components.
  3. Demonstrate conceptual understanding of CPU chips and buses, underlying logic and circuits—overviews.
  4. Demonstrate basic understanding of parallel architecture, including current computing devices.

 

CS 5021 Fundamentals of Operating Systems

         Course outcomes:

      By the end of this course students should comprehend the principles and concepts of operating systems. More specifically, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the functions of operating systems, e.g., scheduling, synchronization, process and memory management, and file-systems.
  2. Describe process and memory resource management strategies and performance issues.
  3. Identify strengths and weaknesses of various operating systems.

 

CS 5031 Fundamentals of Database Systems

         Course outcomes:

By the end of this course students should comprehend the principles and concepts of database systems. More specifically, students should be able to:

  1. Analyze and design data, so a database for it can be created.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of the relational database model, including normalization.
  3. Create, modify and query databases using the SQL language.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of the client-server and three-tier models for database applications

 

CS 5081 – DreamWeaver Web Development

         Course outcomes:

Students will be able to:

  1. List and describe the phases of website development.
  2. Design and construct a website including audio and visual components and a database component.
  3. Discuss layout techniques, XML vs. XHTML, scripting languages.
  4. Describe elements of the following topics as related to website development: security, project management, usability evaluation, navigation, testing, and maintenance.

 

CS 5642 – Professional Practices & Ethics 

         Course outcomes:

  1. Identify ethical responsibilities and considerations and apply ethics, including professional codes of ethics, in scenarios and case studies.
  2. Identify and use resources for keeping up with the profession.
  3. Discuss legal and ethical issues relevant to freedom of speech, intellectual property, privacy, and security.

 

CS 5022 – Advanced Java Programming 1-2-2 format

         Course outcomes

  1. implement standard data structures;
  2. demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of data abstraction;
  3. explain the basic concepts of runtime analysis and efficiency; and
  4. demonstrate more advanced skills in designing and writing Java OO programming;
  5. demonstrate an understanding of the AP Case Study problem (currently GridWorld) by solving problems within the space.

 

CS 5083 – Teaching CS Methods

         Course outcomes:

  1. Analyze potential learning difficulties and adjust teaching for students with different needs.
  2. Implement a variety of methods in the teaching process, including meaningful learning, collaborative learning, inquiry learning, etc.
  3. Develop constructivist 5E approach to authentic activities which engage students to computing and create a supportive and active learning environment.
  4. Develop various types of assessments (e.g., formative and summative, authentic, and performance) and corresponding rubrics to evaluate student learning.
  5. Develop detailed lesson plans for selective topics, consisting of goals and objectives, descriptions of activities and tasks, teaching methods, teaching aids, and evaluation.

 

CS 5091 – CS Teaching Practicum 1.5 hours

         Course outcomes:

  1. Develop detailed 5E lesson plans for selective topics, consisting of goals and objectives, descriptions of activities and tasks, teaching methods, teaching aids, and evaluation and enact and deliver those plans.
  2. Demonstrate effective management of a computer science classroom and laboratory.
  3. Establish a bank of resources for teaching computing in high school, including possible materials, lab assignments, class activities, and websites.
  4. Actively participate in professional communities such as CSTA and ACM. Keep up with research in the area of computer science education, and apply it to the teaching process.

 

Computer Science Course curriculum